Review of registered dietitian, Lisa Tillinger Johansen's book on dieting, nutrition, and weight loss.

Did you know most of us are on a high-protein diet whether we know it or not? I didn't either until I read Johansen's book, Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off! Did you know the U.S. is among the top 10 countries with the most overweight people? . . . that three out of ten people are currently trying to lose weight? . . . that the grapefruit diet has been around since the 1930's? Johansen has prepared us with a dish of healthy common sense facts and truths about dieting. She gives 12 characteristics of fad diets and explains how to spot them. Specifically, she mentions 15 of such diets by name - Jenny Craig, Paleo, Atkins, Gluten-free, Cleanse, Blood type, Nutrisystem, etc. - and logically explains why these diets are not beneficial and even detrimental to most people. Next, Johansen explains who should limit or avoid foods in certain food group and who should not. After all, as she points out, " . . . it's important that we don't develop an unhealthy or fearful relationship with food." In her book, she also explains how to visualize serving sizes. For instance, it may be easier to regulate food consumption when you think of a cup of cereal as the size of a baseball or three ounces as the size of your checkbook or a gram size being that of a paper clip. For dessert, some of the book is ironically hilarious as Johansen explains ridiculous diets such as the "cotton ball baloney" in which a person eats 5 cotton balls soaked in lemonade. As you read through these once-popular "diets", you are given a clearer perspective of today's trending diets. In addition, over 30 tips are given for healthy eating such as: "Don't drink your calories," "Practice mindful eating" "Take advantage of your support system" and many more. Further, six indicators of not getting enough water and a description of our most efficient energy source are served on the table along with the main content. Lastly, Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off, provides two websites where you can find a plethora of information on healthy eating and, at the time, design a diet specific to your needs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who eats and reads -- especially anyone who has been on a diet, is currently on a diet, or is thinking of going on a diet. My favorite quote: ". . . keeping a food and exercise dairy is one of the most useful weight management tools available." - Lisa Tillinger Johansen For more reviews, visit www.McNeilsReviews.com